A/N: A little shorter than usual, but we're slowly working our way towards the Fall, so I'm admittedly a little anxious to get there! Please let me know your thoughts in the comments, and thanks again for all your lovely feedback. Much love!

Chapter 16:

She watched and waited, concentrating on Noctis across the field. He stalked from side to side, eyeing her, sizing her up. She waited, twirling her shuriken between her fingers. The Star of the Rogue, after all these years, felt natural to her, like an organic extension of her body, instead of the weapon that it was. But she was in no hurry to use it. She didn't particularly relish the fact that Prince Noctis was challenging her to a sparring match, but she wouldn't back down from a fight. Not when doing so would make her look more guilty than accepting.

His black hair fell in his eyes, though it didn't seem to bother him in the slightest. But it bothered her. She preferred to read the gaze of her opponents; the eyes gave almost everything away. But the prince's were hard to see.

Which was why she almost didn't catch it when he warped to her, bringing his blade down in a strike from above.

Quickly, startlingly, she flipped the Star forwards, allowing herself to warp after it, appearing across from Noctis on the other side of the field. Though his eyes were shielded by that shock of dark hair, she could tell he was surprised she'd used his own tactic against him.

He came at her again, this time following up his warp with a strike for her torso.

But she was gone again, looking at him quizzically from her position opposite the arena. When would he realize she was toying with him?

"Very funny," He called out to her. His voice shook in anger. "You can't play games forever, Inertia."

"You won't defeat me with strength alone, your Highness," She answered in kind. "You must also outthink me."

"It's worked for me against everyone else," He sighed, almost bored, warping at her again. This time she humored him, allowing his stroke to connect with her shuriken. She caught the blow with ease, his steel inches from her face.

"I'm not everyone else," She whispered, withdrawing her shuriken. Before he could collect himself, surprised at the sudden shift in weight, she had curled her Star around his head, whipping at the edges of his hair. If she wanted to hurt him she could, but she didn't. She caught it in her hand again, a small smile gracing her lips. "Come at me, Prince."

The taunting had bothered him more than she'd thought possible.

He yelled, a guttural, ugly thing, bringing his sword at her again, and she deflected the hit, parrying with a stroke of her own weapon, but he dodged it, warping through her attack. And so it went from stroke to stroke, hit to hit, dodge to dodge, until they'd neared the edge of the field, both of them rattling for breath.

"Why can't I hit you!?" He fumed, thrusting his sword forward again. She flipped up into the air, coming down at him with her shuriken, side swiping his shoulder. He hissed in pain, but deflected her follow up attack, his rage feeding on itself.

"You're too impatient," She told him calmly.

"How long am I supposed to wait!?" He swept his sword at her legs, though thankfully she jumped at the last moment.

"As long as it takes," She instructed. Backing up a few steps, she put her Star away. While she loved her shuriken, she grew tired of the constant dancing and spinning, after having fought Nyx, too. She needed a change, to keep herself on her toes as much as Noctis. He blinked at her, confused. Closing her eyes, she summoned another weapon, feeling its weight fill both hands in a familiar way - the Swords of the Wanderer.

"Come at me again, Prince Noctis," She invited him forward, a memory of a similar confrontation with Ardyn slipping into her mind. Come at me again, young Inertia, he told her that day. She denied the thought, instead allowing herself to be ever present in the moment.

Noctis didn't hesitate - as she knew he wouldn't. As strong as he might be, he was a brash young prince. She wondered how someone as patient and thoughtful as Regis had borne such an impulsive son.

He surprised her when he warped behind her, instead of in front. She barely had time to catch his blade between hers from behind her back as he struck at her.

Spinning to face him, she engaged.

Noctis was ready this time.

In all his frenzy, he'd been rushing to fell her, this Oracle-to-be who could access the same set of arms and magic he and his father were entitled to by blood.

He couldn't let the point stand.

Maybe his father had blessed her with the same powers he had his glaives, but why? As he hacked, and slashed, and observed the way she moved her feet, and the duality of her swords, trying to glean a better way to break her defenses, he couldn't help but wonder why his father had given this girl the power so many others were denied. Only the best of the best were allowed into the glaives - so what was so special about Inertia Izunia?

Or maybe he was just bitter she was here, instead of Lunafreya.

Waiting for an opening, he took his chance as she spun on her heel, disarming her of her left sword. She blinked, confused at her now empty hand.

"Very good, Highness," She smirked.

She brought her lone blade forward to strike at him, catching him off guard, and he veered out of the way just in time.

He lunged again with his blade, and she caught it with her own.

"How are you able to use the royal arms?" He demanded as he watched the blade on the ground shimmer and disappear. "Did my father do this?" He withdrew his sword, clashing with her own again, though, as expected, she caught it once more. "Are you one of his soldiers, too? Did he send a Glaive to protect Luna?"

She copied his own move then, and with a flick of her wrist, had disarmed him of his own weapon. Surprised, he tried to warp away, but she was on him faster than he could fathom, pinning him to the ground.

"I belong to no man," She was inches from his face, and something burned in her eyes, something hateful and uneasy. He summoned his blade again, and just as it came to fruition in his hand, and he was preparing to strike from his place on the ground, a voice rang out.

"Enough!"

The two of them both looked up to see the King himself standing at the edge of the training grounds, leaning on his cane for support. He looked so tired then, older than Noctis could remember ever seeing him, and his breath caught in his throat. He forgot momentarily that he was pinned, bested by someone who wasn't even Lucian, someone who was using his own magic against him. In that moment, he felt only concern for his father.

Immediately Inertia had risen to her feet, which allowed Noctis the opportunity to rise as well. All of the Glaives and Guards were on their knees, and she and Noctis bowed.

"Forgive us, your Majesty," She kept her head low, avoiding his gaze.

"Sorry, dad," He copied her body language, unsure why it was his father looked so angry, and so frail, at this moment.

"Both of you, come with me, at once," Regis turned on his heel before either of them could reply. "The rest of you, back to your training. Cor, see to it they accomplish something this time."

"As you command, your Majesty," Cor bowed himself, immediately rushing forward to whip his soldiers into shape. Noctis chanced a glance beside him at Inertia, whose eyes looked just as wild with confusion as his.

"Uh…" He stammered, the rage in his gut subsiding. He looked at her with fresh eyes now - looked at this girl who was so close to Luna. Maybe making an enemy of her hadn't been such a good idea after all. "After you." He swept his arm forwards, and she nodded, following behind Regis without hesitation. Though Noctis knew his gesture of chivalry wasn't all that gentlemanly - he wanted to put off a confrontation with his King as long as possible.

But if he had given this girl the capabilities of a glaive, what did that mean for Lunafreya? Was she safe? And if Niflheim had really gotten past the Wall, would she be safe here after their wedding?

His stomach knotted into a tangle as he made his way to his father's quarters, unsure of which he feared more. Luna's life being in danger as she tended to her duties in Tenebrae, or her life being in danger once she came with him to Insomnia, the place that was meant to keep her safe from harm.

"You had one job, Inertia," King Regis chided her as they entered his quarters, tossing his cape onto the nearest surface. She felt the white hot tears of shame gnaw at her eyelids, and she blinked them back, infuriated at herself.

She'd compromised her position.

"I understand, your Grace," She assured him. Noctis looked bewildered beside her.

"What are you talking about, dad?" He demanded. "Who is this girl?"

"Noctis," He began. He sounded tired then. And he looked worse. "Sometimes, a King must bear the burden of secrets in order to protect his people… and his son."

"So she isn't Lunafreya's retainer?" He barked. He shot her a look that made her cold inside. She didn't want to speak out of turn, but there was so much she wished she could say to him. I AM Lunafreya's retainer, and don't you dare question my fucking loyalty to her!

"She is," Regis said with a nod. "But Cor sent her on a mission of grace importance, so I bestowed upon her the blessings of the Glaives."

Wait. What?

That wasn't true. Not in the slightest. Was Regis… covering for her?

"Why would Cor send her on a mission?" Noctis crossed his arms. Regis looked to her then with silent, pleading eyes; time to play along.

"There was a traitor in the glaives," She explained. At least this part was true. "Barrick Stroud was feeding information to Niflheim, and assisted them in gaining access to the city. He needed someone to disrupt his operation, but he knew, well, everyone else in the Citadel." She faked a smile and hoped the prince, though he was brash, was not stupid, would fall for it. "But when I arrived from Tenebrae, I presented an opportunity."

"Why you?" Noctis argued. "It's not like nobody knows who you are. You're Luna's retainer. Not exactly innocuous."

"We figured she could also leverage her position with the Empire should the need arise," Regis explained. Quick thinking, she thought to herself. "And as it turns out, Niflheim did break through our borders that night."

"Why didn't you just tell me, dad?" Noctis's voice broke, then. Something like heartbreak painted his face, and Inertia suddenly felt like she was intruding on a very private moment between father and son. She was uncomfortable, and wished to leave them alone. "You could have trusted me with this."

"I wanted to, my son," Regis's shoulders were heavy, and she knew he was burdened by so much more than just this. She thought to jump in, then.

"Your Highness, we thought if we let you or Lunafreya in on our secret, you may both be negatively impacted before your marriage," Inertia twiddled her fingers, though the way Noctis looked at her she had nothing to be frightened of. The angry, confused boy from the training grounds had melted into a resolved, understanding leader. She only just noticed how sad his eyes were, and wondered just how much of a burden the son of the King truly bore. As much as Luna carried the burdens of Tenebrae, Noctis carried with him the hopes of an entire kingdom. "Both Lucis and Tenebrae need you and Lunafreya at your best… I thought this might complicate matters. It was my idea, and I convinced your father and Cor to cover up my involvement. And for that I apologize."

"I appreciate that, Lady Inertia," Noctis sighed. "If you don't mind, I'd like to be alone with my dad."

"Of course," She bowed, and caught Regis's eye on her way out. Something shimmered in them, tears, but also, gratitude, gratitude for the fact that she took the fall for his decision, gratitude for the fact that, just once, he could be a father to his son first, and King second.

She wasn't surprised that night when she received the email from King Regis asking her to limit her involvement with his son. And his retinue. And the Glaives and the Crownsguard. She knew he meant no disrespect to her, but she also knew her position had nearly been jeopardized by secrets of her past falling out at everyone's feet. While the soldiers of Insomnia had been convinced her powers were a blessing from the King, the more she involved herself with them, the more chance there was of them finding out her connection to Ardyn, Chancellor of Niflheim, as well as her unnatural creation. And should they find out the Empire was that close to infusing its own soldiers with the abilities of the Lucian kings, the kingdom itself might lose heart.

And a King must always put his people first.

So much for training with the Glaives, she fell on her bed, looking to the ceiling as if answers would magically rain down from above. Back to training in secret.

Your heart is troubled, Lady Inertia, Griseo joined her on the bed. I do believe you anticipated no combat at all during this endeavor. Why does this bother you now?

She pondered the question, and immediately knew the answer, though she was loath to admit it.

Because for once, I felt normal, she turned over, away from her Guardian, away from her companion, so he wouldn't see her cry. And for a few short moments, I almost believed it possible.